Island



E. s. HINELINE.

STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15. 1920.

1,398,694. Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

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PATENT OFFICE.

EDSON S. HINELINE, OF AIPPONAUG, RHODE ISLAND, A SSIGNOR TO HINELINE ENGI- NEERING COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

STOP-MOTION FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 29, 1921.

Application filed March 15, 1920. Serial No. 365,940.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDSON S. HINELINE,

. a citizen of the United States, and a resident machines.

In order that the principle of my invention may be readily understood, I-have disclosed a singleembodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of a part of a circular knitting machine having my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail in side elevation and looking toward the left in Fig. 1 of a portion of the stop mechanism constituting an' embodiment of my invention;

F ig. 4. is a plan view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a detail looking toward the right in Fig. 1 and from within the circle of needles and representing a portion of my invention.

An important object of my invention is to provide a knitting machine with an emergency device which is preferably a stopping mechanism, operative by reason of an improperly positioned or defective knitting needle. My invention may be embodied in knitting machines of various types and so far as certain principles thereof are concerned, it may be embodied in so-called straight or so-called circular machines, but preferably and as herein disclosed my invention is embodied in or used in connection with a circular knitting machine for knitting hosiery or other fabrics wherein at times the knitting needles or the cam mechanism is or are rotated and at other times arereciprocated relative to each other as for stocking.

I Will disclose my invention as applied to the so-called Banner type of knitting machine shown in United States Letters Patent No. 933,443, dated September 7, 1909, but I desire it to be understood that" my invention is in no wise limited in its application thereto. In such type of machine, the needle cylinder is at times rotated and at times is reciprocated, and the cam ring is stationary, and desirably, but not necessarily, my invention is practised with such an organization of parts.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the latch ring of a circular knitting machine as of the so-called Banner type is indicated at 1, and the circular series of needles is indicated at 2. Suitably mounted in the latch ring and preferably by pivoting them upon a horizontal pin 3, is a series of yarn fingers or levers 4, 5, 6, 7 8, by means of which the desired yarns are fed at the proper times to the needle in a manner not herein necessary fully to disclose. Desirably the yarn finger or lever 7 is employed during reciprocating knitting to feed the yarn during the formation and fashioningof the heel and'toe and the'yarn lever 8 is employed during the knitting of the leg of the stocking. In Fig. 2, I have represented the yarn lever 8 as in action and the yarn lever 7 for the heel and toe as elevated into inactive position.

In accordance with my invention I provide means preferably to intersect and as herein shown to overlie or overlap the path of the needles, but which may in any suitable manner co-act or function with respect to the needle path and in such manner as to act in the event of needle defect, as, for example, in the case of an improperly elevated needle due to the breaking of a needle butt or other accident preventing the needle from being drawn to the proper point by the knitting cam.

In Fig. 5, I have indicated at 9 the drawing down of the needles through the agency of the knitting cams in a well known man- In order to cause such improper elevation "ner and have at v10 indicated animproperly elevated needle, such positioning of the needle being due to some needle defect.

loo

of a needle and preferably at or in the vicinity of the knitting point, to cause the operation of an emergency device such for example as the operation of a stopping mechanism of the-machine, I preferably provide the followin construction of parts, which I will speci cally describe as a preferred I embodiment of my invention but to which nal.

my invention is not limited.

Upon or forming an integral portion of a lateral extension of the latch ring 1 or upon a horizontal plate secured to such latch ring, I mount a housing 12 provided with a vertical opening extending through a hub or projection 13 at the lower side thereof. Within said vertical opening I mount for rocking movement a pin 14 shown most clearly in Fig. 1 and having fast thereon and preferably within the housing an arm 15 which may constitute one contact of an electric circuit and to whichend it is provided with a wire or conductor 16 pertaining to such circuit, the latter having a battery or other suitable source of energy. Preferably within the said housing is provided a second and herein fixed contact 17, from which extends a suitable wire or conductor pertaining to said circuit.

I employ any suitable means to maintain the contacts 15 and 17 normally out of engagement with each other and to that end I have herein represented the lower end of the vertical pin 14 as provided with a head 19 from which laterally extends an arm 20. Connected to said arm and also to a pin or extension 21 from said housing 12 is a coil spring 22. Said spring 22 acts normally to hold the contact member 15 away from the contact member 17.

Mounted for sliding movement in preferably a right line in the head 19 of the pin 14 is a pin, rod or slide 23 which desirably is normally positioned radially with respect to the circle of needles 2, and the inner end 24: thereof is caused to overlap the path of said needles by any suitable means, one form of which I will describe.

As is clearly evident from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 5, the slide, pin or rod 23 is so located with respect to the knitting point of the needles that the needles are lowered normally-to the knitting point as indicated at 9, and hence a normally acting needle does not contact with the inner end 24" of said pin, rod or slide 23. If, however, a defective needle, such as 10, encounters the end 24: of said pin, rod or slide 28, then the latter is moved out of the needle path and the arm or contact 15 is caused to engage with the contact 17 and the circuit is completed, thereby stopping the machine or operating any other emergency device such as an alarm or a sig- In the drawing, I have represented emergency device actuating means. It is to be understood that the term emergency device is broadly employed to indicate stopping mechanism or an alarm or a signal,.or any other emergency means.

Desirably I provide means whereby for and during reciprocating knitting for the formation of the heel and toe and during which formation apart of the circle, of needles is elevated or rendered inactive,.the rod, pin or slide 23 is withdrawn from functioning relation with respect to the needle.

While for this purpose any suitable means may be provided, I have herein disclosed the following organization of parts.

Upon the extension or plate 11 and desirably in a hub 25 formed therewith, I pivot ally mount a horizontally positioned pin 26 having fast on one end an arm 27 receiving an adjustable screw 28 adapted as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to contact with the upper face of the heel and toe yarn lever 7. Fast upon the other end of the pin 26 is an arm or extension 29 having a laterally extending, preferably cam portion 30, with which is adapted to engage the head or end 31 of the pin, rod or slide 23. Surrounding the latter and positioned between the head 31 and the head 19 of the pin 14 is a coiled spring 32 which is held under tension by the cam portion 30 so long as the pin, rod or slide 23 is in functioning relation with respect to the circle of needles 2, and which spring 32 acts to remove or withdraw the pin, rod or slide 23 fromfunctioning relation with respect to the said circle of needles 2 during and for reciprocating knitting in the formation of the heel and toe of the stocking.

As rotary or circular knitting is commenced, the yarn lever 8 is moved down into operative position as represented in Fig. 2, and the heel and toe lever 7 is elevated as shown'in said figure. The upward movement of the yarn lever 7 acting through the screw 28 moves the cam portion 30 inward toward the circle of needles with the result that the pin, rod or slide 23 is positioned in functioning or overlapping relation with respect to the circular needles 2 as indicated in Fig. 1. This position of the part 23 continues in the event that no defective needle contacts therewith until reciprocating knitting is begun as in the formation of the heel or toe of a stocking, for which the yarn lever7 is lowered into active position and the cam portion 30 is thereupon through the movement of the screw 28 caused to move outwardly with respect to the circle of needles, thereby permitting the coil spring 32 to withdraw the part 23 from functioning relation with respect to the circle of needles.

The cam portion 30 is so shaped that its inner arc 30 is at a greater radial distance from the axis of the knitting head than the outer end 30". The result is that when the rod, pin or slide 23 moves in a clockwise direction or toward the end 30, said rod, pin

or slide will be withdrawn from an overlapping relation with respect to the needles 2, and conversely when said rod, pin or slide is moved in a contrary direction, it will be restored into said overlapping relation with respect to the needles. In other words, the provision of the cam formation upon the part 30 gives a greater overlapping of the inner endof the rod, pin or slide 23 with respect to the needles than would be the case if the part 30 were formed concentrically with respect to the axis of the knitting head.

While I have represented electrical means for causing the functioning of a stop mechanism or other emergency device, I desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited thereto.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth. in the following claims.

1. The combination with the needles of a knitting machine adapted for both rotary.

and reciprocating knitting, and a member mounted to slide toward and from the needles, and having functioning relation with respect to the normal path of the needles during rotary knitting whereby it may cause functioning of an emergency device, but having non-functioning relation with respect thereto during reciprocating knitting.

2. The combination of the needles of a knitting machine adapted for rotary and reciprocating knitting, an electrical emergency device actuating means, and a member 00- acting with said electricalemergency means and having functioning relation with respect to the needles durin rotary knitting, and having non-functioning relation with respect thereto during reciprocating knitting thread guiding means establishing said functioning and non-functioning relations and means adapted to be moved by said member through the action of a defective needle to change the condition of the circuit of saidelectrical emergency means.

3. A knitting machine having a series of needles, a member mounted to slide toward and from the needles and having functioning relation with respect to said series of needles periodically and adapted to cause an emergency device to function, and means acting periodically to withdraw said member from functioning relation with. respect to said series of needles.

4. A knitting machine having a series of needles, and a pin 23 normally positioned in overlapping relation with respect tothe series of needles and to be engaged by a defective needle and mounted to slide into and out of said overlapping relation so as to cause an emergency device to function, and means for periodically withdrawing said pin 23 from overlapping relation with respect to said needle.

5. In combination, aseries of knitting machine needles and a member having a functioning position with respect to said needles and adapted to be engaged by a defective needle, said member having both a sliding and a rocking movement when struck 'by a defective needle, and adapted to co-act with an emergency device.

6. In combination, a circular series of knitting machine needles adapted to be rotated and reciprocated, a member 23 normally having a functioning relation with said needles, and then positioned radially with respect to the needle circle, so as to be engaged by' a defective needle, yarn feedin means, operative connections between said yarn feeding means and said member 23, whereby: during rotary knitting saidmember 23 s functioning relation with respect to said needles and whereby during reciprocatin knitting said member 23 has a non-functioning relation with respect tosaid needles and whereby an emergency device may co-act with said member 23 when the latter is engaged by a defective needle and thereby moved outof radial position.

7. In combination, a ClIClllLl: series of knitting machine needles adapted for both rotary and reciprocating work, electrical machine-stopping actuating means, and a member cooperating with said means and adapted to be engaged by a defective needle, and yarn feeding means permitting said member to function with relation to said circiilar series of needles only during rotary wor 8. In combination, a circular series of knitting machine needles adapted for both rotary and reciprocating work, electrical machine-stopping actuating means, a movable member cooperating with said means and adapted to be engaged by a defective needle, and thereby moved to cooperate with said machine-stopping actuating means, means adapted to be moved by said member to change the condition of the current of said electrical machine stopping means, and thread guiding means to Withdraw said movable member from functioning relation with respect to the circular series of needles for and during reciprocating work.

9. In combination, a knitting machine having a series of needles, yarn feeding means, a member having functioning rela tion with respect to said needles and to be moved by a'defective needle so that an emergency device may be actuated by said member when moved by a defective needle and operative connections whereby the yarn feeding means causes said member to be active or inactive with respect to said series of needles.

10. In combination, a knitting machine having a series of needles, yarn feeding means, a member having functioning relation with respect to said needles and to be acted upon by a defective needle, a machine stopping actuating device adapted to be actuated by said member when so acted upon by a defective needle, and means whereby the yarn feeding means causes said member to be active or inactive with respect to said series of needles.

11. In combination, a knitting machine having a circular series of needles adapted for both rotary and reciprocating work, a member living functioning relation with respect to said needles and adapted to be acted upon by an improperly elevated needle, and thereupon to act upon an emergency device, a plurality of yarn fingers, and operative connections between said fingers and said member, whereby during rotary knitting said member has functioning relation with respect to said needles and whereby during reciprocating knitting said member has a non-functioning relation with respect to said needles.

12. In combination, a knitting machine having a circular series of needles 2 and having yarn levers 7 and 8, a member 23 adapted to be enga ed by an improperly elevated needle and with which an emergency device may co-act, and operative connectlons between the yarn lever 7 and said member 23 for the purpose set forth.

. 13. In combination, a knitting machine having a circular series of needles 2 and having a heel and toe yarn lever 7, a rod 23 having a radial, overlapping relation with respect to said series of needles, operative connections 26, 27, 28, 30 between said yarn lever 7 and said rod 23, whereby said heel and toe yarn lever .7 causes said rod 23 to be active or inactive with respect to the needles, and an emergency device actuating means adapted to be acted upon by said rod 23 when the latter is engaged by a defective needle.

14. In combination, a knitting machine having a circular series of needles 2 adapted for rotary and reciprocating work, a slide member 23 having functioning relation with respect to said series of needles during rotary work and adapted to be slid into and out of said functioning relation, a rocking support for said slide member, and electrical stopping actuating means including contacts 15, 17 cooperatively related to said rocking support.

15. In combination, a knitting machine having a series of needles adapted for rotary and reciprocating work, a member 23 adapted during rotary work to overlie the path of the needles at or near the knitting Y point'and to be engaged by an unduly elevated needle, yarn feeding means, and operative connections whereby said member 23 is withdrawn consequent upon the action of said yarn feeding means from said overlying relation with respect to the path of a yarn levers 7, 8 and having also an extension 11, a member 23 supported upon said extension and therefore carried by said latch ring, and adapted to be acted upon by a defective needle, and electrical emergency actuating connections also carried by said latch ring and adapted to be caused to function by engagement of said member 23 with a defective needle.

18. A knitting machine having a series of needles, a movable member adapted to overlap the path of the needles at or near the knitting point, a housing supporting said member, and electrical emergency actuating connections positioned within said housing and caused to function by movement of said member when engaged by an improperly elevated needle at or near the knitting point and operative connections between said movable member and the electrical connections in said housing.

19. In combination, a knitting machine having a series of needles, a plurality of relatively movable yarn feeding fingers, a member having functioning relation with respect to said needles and to be acted upon by a defective needle, a machine stopping actuating device adapted to be actuated by said member when so acted upon by a defective needle, and means whereby a yarn feeding finger causes said member to be active or inactive with respect to said series of needles.

20. In combination, a knitting machine having a circular series of needles adapted for both rotary and reciprocating work, a member having functioning relation with respect to said needles and adapted to be acted upon by a defective needle and thereupon to act upon an emergency device, yarn feeding means, and operative connections between said yarn feeding means and said reciprocating knitting said member has a non-functioning relation withrespect to said needles.

21. The combination of the needles of a knitting machine adapted for rotary and reciprocating knitting, an electrical emergency actuating device, and a member 00- acting with said electrical emergency actuating device and having functioning relation with respect to the needles during rotary knitting and mounted to slide toward and from the needles so as to have a nonfunctioning relation with respect to the needles during reciprocating knitting.

22. In combination, a knitting machine having a series of needles, a plurality of relatively movable yarn feeding fingers, a member having functioning relation with respect to said needles and'to be acted upon by an improperly positioned needle, Whereby a machine stopping device may be actuated by 'said member when so acted upon by said needle, and means whereby a yarn feeding finger causes said member to be active or inactive with respect to said series of needles.

23. In combination, a knitting machine and whereby an emergency devlce may be actuated by said member When moved by an improperly positioned needle, and operative connections whereby the yarn ,feeding means causes said member to be active or inactive with respect to said series of needles.

24:. In combination, a circular series of knitting machine needles adapted for both rotary and reciprocatory work, electrical machine stopping actuating means, and a member cooperating with said means and adapted to be engaged by a defective needle, said member being slidable. into and out of functioning relation with respect to the circle of needles, and means permitting said member to function with relation to said circular series of needles only during rotary work.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

EDSON S. HINELINE. 

